Behind the badge, tragedy weighs heavily

Friday

Mar 22, 2013 at 4:28 PM

From beneath the badge, officers and firefighters have a heart, and moments of tragedy weigh heavily on their minds.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

From beneath the badge, officers and firefighters have a heart, and moments of tragedy weigh heavily on their minds. Coping with tragedies quickly is a must for them to continue and excel in their professions as was the case during recent incidences in Davidson County.On a cold, blustery January day, Davidson County sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene of a murder-suicide to find a little girl watching television, unaware her parents were dead. Just days earlier, Thomasville Police arrived at an apartment complex to find a man lying in a parking lot with a stab wound, which would eventually lead to his death. Before the week was out, sleet was falling as employees of Atlanta Car Co. walked in to find their boss dead, yet another scene the sheriff's deputies faced. These incidences were all in January, and this is just a part of what first responders dealt with in a year that experienced a harrowing beginning."It seems like every other year, we start out crazy in January," Davidson County Sheriff David Grice said. "Nobody likes to see the children involved. That has the most impact on the officers seeing the children involved."Thick skin is requiredGrice, who has more than 40 years of experience in law enforcement, was a longtime criminal justice instructor at Davidson County Community College before becoming sheriff. He explained rookie officers are told during their training that dealing with tragedy is part of the job.Officers who have a long career in law enforcement don't have a problem because they know handling tough situations comes with the territory, the sheriff said, adding that officers must not internalize cases.On a personal note, the sheriff admits he gets it in his mind that dealing with tragedy is part of the job."We are the ones who are to come and investigate the tragic accidents, homicides, assaults, all the bad things people do to each other," the sheriff said. "We just come to accept it."Thomasville Police Det. Sgt. Brad Saintsing acknowledges officers when dealing with a horrific event have to harness their emotions and maintain their professionalism."There are incidents where the visions of tragedy imprint itself on their psyche," Saintsing said. "Taking time off, talking about what was seen, experienced, and just allowing time to grieve and heal are things that help officers cope."Have a hobbyBrad Needham, Davidson County's fire marshal, has been in his field for 16 years. He learned early on in his career when two tragedies occurred within a week's time frame that a hobby is a good thing when handling stress."Me personally, I might go camping, fishing, different things like that," the fire marshal said. "When I am doing that, I can clear it up in my mind, and I walk through all the steps to ensure I have done everything I can do. What we see and what we have to deal with, sometimes it's better to take a couple of days off, go fishing and camping and clear your mind because you've got to come back and do your job."Grice tells rookies to develop a life away from the sheriff's office."When a rookie wants to come to work, they want to live and breathe it, watch cops shows and target shoot," the sheriff said. "I tell them to develop a lifestyle separate from the sheriff's office, get hobbies, get involved in their family, make sure they stay involved in church, get a hobby and have a life away from the sheriff's office. Give it a 100 percent effort and leave it at the door at the sheriff's office."Kevin Hartman is a lieutenant at the Pilot Fire Department. He also is a full-time paramedic in Davie County and a part-time paramedic in Davidson County.A lot of prayer and church, as well as exercising or another hobby, helps to cope with tragedy, Hartman said."Just a day out on the lake fishing can be very stress relieving," he said. "A lot of people have different hobbies that they like to do."Officers, Saintsing said, must realize police work is not their entire life. Family and friends, he explained, are essential in being able to flip a switch and leave work at work."A good diet, good nutrition, and getting the right amount of rest and relaxation is vital to the officers' health and well-being," Saintsing said.Relying on each otherFirst responders, Needham said, work together."Honestly, anytime, I don't care if it is law enforcement, EMS or fire, anytime we go to these scenes, we sort of rely on each other and help each other and things like that anytime we have a tragedy such as we have had lately," the fire marshal said. "We sort of help each other out."N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. K.G. Brown said the SHP has a statewide member assistance team to help troopers discuss tragic events. That team can be deployed to help counsel troopers in the event of a fatality or trooper-involved shooting."It's definitely a very vital and important tool that we have," Brown said. "… We definitely try to encourage our (troopers) to talk with their peers, supervisors and have roundtables."Kelly Forrest serves as a facilitator for the county's Critical Incident Stress Management Team and chaplain for Davidson County Emergency Services. Forrest also is an instructor for emergency medical sciences at Davidson County Community College.Forrest said the Critical Incident Stress Management Team can be used countywide for any emergency services personnel and any fire department in the county. The debriefings conducted by the team typically occur between 24 and 72 hours after the event."We have had to do as many as six in a week," Forrest said. "It varies according to the number of tragedies."The main goal of the meetings is to restore the first responders' functional capacity. Forrest and his team also are trying to prevent first responders from having post-traumatic stress disorder."We are concerned how they are doing with the event, emotionally and psychologically," Forrest said.Seeking the services from the team is on a volunteer basis, he said. Forrest said the toughest scenes for first responders are the ones involving a child, including the incidences that could have been prevented. He used the examples of children who needed to be in car seats or the children killed by a drunk driver."We are not bulletproof," said Lt. Alton Hanes, interim emergency management coordinator for Davidson County Emergency Services. "Everybody is affected by situations and the scenes we see every day."Dealing with the communitySaintsing explained one of the toughest things to do in law enforcement is delivering a death notification. In making the notification, officers provide information on resources to the family such as the North Carolina Office of Victim Services through the N.C. Department of Public Safety."It is also the least desirable job a police officer wants to do," Saintsing said, adding that the TPD has three chaplains to assist with making the notifications.The toughest part of handling tragedy for Saintsing is dealing with innocent children who have been involved in the event. The sergeant explained a child usually has no control or choice of the events leading up to the tragedy. "A lot of officers have children and when dealing with a tragic event, involving a child, it's normal to think of your own," Saintsing said. "You have to go home and give them a hug."Needham said he listens to residents in the community who have gone through tragedy."We try to encourage them if it bothers them to seek help in their churches or their doctor's offices," he said. "… Never bottle it up. Always be willing to talk to somebody."Grice said he and his deputies empathize with people when tragic events occur."We do everything we can to help them work through it," he said. "… If we can't help them, we will direct them in a direction they need."The sheriff's office investigates numerous deaths throughout the year, ranging from accidental to natural deaths."We can show you proof that the devil is among us," the sheriff said. "We are dealing with acts that are pure evil."Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.